Rockets guard James Harden and head coach Kevin McHale watch during a break in the action.

Rockets guard James Harden and head coach Kevin McHale watch during a break in the action.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

Image 19 of 21

Rockets centers Omer Asik, left, and Dwight Howard warm up before the game.

Rockets centers Omer Asik, left, and Dwight Howard warm up before the game.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

Image 20 of 21

Houston Rockets small forward Chandler Parsons introduced before the game.

Houston Rockets small forward Chandler Parsons introduced before the game.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

Image 21 of 21

Rockets report: Lin, Beverley keep pace in point competition

1 / 21

Back to Gallery

As questions continue to swirl about who the Rockets’ starting point guard is this season, Jeremy Lin and Patrick Beverley played several minutes together Monday night.
Lin started at point guard and played 33 minutes. Beverley came off the bench and played 26.

“I thought (Lin) did a lot of nice things,” coach Kevin McHale said. “He broke people down; he had eight assists. Between he and (Beverley), they had 13 assists and four turnovers. I liked when they were both in the game.”

Lin finished with six points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals. Beverley had 10 points, five assists and two rebounds. McHale praised both for their defense.

“I thought they were both really solid,” he said. “Any mistakes that they do make are mistakes because they’re trying really hard and getting after it. They stay in place. They use their hands. They’re both diligent guys.”

Casspi takes hit from Nowitzki

With 24.5 seconds to play in the third quarter, Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki was called for a Type II flagrant foul and was ejected from the game. He went up to block Omri Casspi and instead hit Casspi hard in the face.

Casspi said he was fine after the game.

“It was a tough foul,” Casspi said. “I don’t think Dirk tried to hit me that way. He tried to hit the ball. It happens.”

Garcia solid off the bench

The Rockets have had several players provide an offensive spark off the bench in the preseason.

In Monday’s win over Dallas, that guy was Francisco Garcia. He had 15 points, making five of 10 3-pointers. He also had two rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes.

“Thats what the bench has to do,” Garcia said. “That’s our job — to just come in the game and bring a lot of energy and bring some excitement to the game.”

Garcia said he felt like he could knock down shots early in the game. His teammates encouraged him to shoot.

“As soon as I was in the building, I knew my shot was on,” he said. “My teammates really give me a lot of confidence. They give me the ball and tell me to just shoot it.”

Refs to pay closer attention to rules

An NBA crew chief went over points of emphasis this season before Monday night’s game.

The NBA referee crews will be watching these areas of the games more closely this season: illegal screens, contact on jump shots, discontinued dribbling, delay of game, freedom of movement, verticality, blocks/charges, flagrant fouls, and respect for the game.

New rule changes this season include that players who go out of bounds must immediately return inbounds, or they will be called for a violation. For example, if a player steps out on the baseline to expand the opposing team’s defense, that will be a violation.

Club names new D-League coach

The Rockets have hired Nevada Smith to be the next coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the team’s NBA Developmental League affiliate.

Smith replaces Nick Nurse, who led the Vipers to a D- League title last season before accepting an assistant coaching job with the Toronto Raptors this summer.